142 HORSES AND ROADS. 



much more springy. The fact is, I don't think we 

 attend enough to the hind feet. They don't show 

 the effect of bad shoeing like the forefeet, and so 

 they don't get attention ; but what is bad in front 

 can't be good behind. The mare's heels became 

 much more open, and no man need desire a better 

 hack on the road.' Not long ago a correspondent 

 wrote that his horses were shod all round a la 

 Charlier, yet they were quite capable of ' backing ' a 

 load on any ordinary road, because they stood upon 

 their /eei (although they did not quite do so). Now, 

 ' backing ' is the most severe work a horse can be 

 called upon to perform ; and, therefore, it seems 

 strange that every facility should not be allowed 

 him for its performance. No valid reason has been 

 adduced to deter us from 'going the whole quad- 

 ruped ' — that is to say, if you persist in shoeing him 

 at all. If you do, you should go in for Charlier tips 

 'all round.' Nothing in the shape of shoeing can 

 touch that form ; unless it is to let the hind feet go 

 bare altogether, as they do in Massachusetts. When 

 you reach this point you will soon throw away those 

 in front also. 



